Miniature rose plant named &#39;KORpot044&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose having long lasting, novel white flowers, and attractive foliage with good disease resistance; exhibiting compact, upright to bushy growth with abundant flowers; propagating well from cuttings and by grafting, is disclosed.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/965,414 filed Jan. 29, 2014. This variety was developed without the aid of any research grant.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rosa hybrida

DENOMINATION

‘KORpot044’

BACKGROUND

‘KORpot044’ originated from a controlled crossing in a breeding program of two distinct parents during the summer of 2010 in a controlled environment in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany between an un-named Rosa hybrida seedling as the seed or female parent (unpatented) and another un-named Rosa hybrida seedling as the pollen or male parent (unpatented).

The objective of the hybridization was to create a new and distinct rose plant with unique qualities, such as:

-   1. Compact and uniform growth and flowering under greenhouse     conditions when grown as a potted floral plant; -   2. Abundant, long lasting, and attractive flowers and foliage; -   3. Resistance to diseases encountered in greenhouse and nursery     culture; and -   4.Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in floral and     nursery containers.

The resulting seeds from the cross were planted during the following winter in 2010 and were evaluated. The resulting seedlings exhibited distinctive physical and biological characteristics. ‘KORpot044’ was selected in April 2011 as a single plant from the seedling beds in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany due to its superior characteristics. ‘KORpot044’ was first asexually propagated by rooting softwood cuttings in June 2011 in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany and asexually propagated for further evaluation. This new and distinctive rose variety was subsequently named ‘KORpot044’.

The initial and other subsequent asexual propagations were conducted in controlled environments and demonstrate that ‘KORpot044’ reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction via rooting softwood cuttings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KORpot044’ were applied for in the European Community on Feb. 6, 2014, Application No. 2014/0284. ‘KORpot044’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the priority date of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Jackson County, Oreg.

-   1. ‘KORpot044’ has a large number of white, medium sized flowers;     and -   2. ‘KORpot044’ has a compact, upright to bushy habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new miniature rose plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which shows an overall view of the plant and a close-up of specific parts of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of ‘KORpot044’ approximately 4 months of age growing in a glasshouse in the nursery of the breeder in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the buds, sepals, flowers, leaves, prickles, and stems of ‘KORpot044’ approximately 6 months of age growing in Jackson City, Oreg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of ‘KORpot044’, as observed growing in October 2014 in a nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. on plants of 6 months of age. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001 except where common terms of color are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.         -   Species.—Rosa hybrida.         -   Common name.—Miniature rose.         -   Variety.—‘KORpot044’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Un-named rose plant (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Un-named rose plant (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Habit.—Compact; upright to bushy.         -   Size.—When grown as a 10.5 cm pot plant, the average plant             height is 18.0 cm to 23.0 cm. and the average plant width is             15.0 cm to 18.0 cm.         -   Winter hardiness.—Due to the variety's principal use in             greenhouses, winter hardiness has not been evaluated. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—Young wood: RHS 144A (Yellow-Green) Older wood: RHS             146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Intonations.—RHS 183B (Greyed-Red) occasionally present on             young wood.         -   Stem surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth Older wood: Smooth.         -   Length.—16.0 cm to 20.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. -   Prickles:     -   -   Quantity.—Average of 7 per each 10.0 cm of stem.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Size.—Average length of large prickles is 3.0 mm.         -   Color.—Immature prickles: RHS 182B (Greyed-Purple) Mature             prickles: RHS 145C (Yellow-Green); senescing to 165A             (Greyed-Orange). -   Leaves:     -   -   General.—Normally 5 leaflets on normal leaves in middle of             the stem.         -   Venation pattern.—Pyramidal net pattern.         -   Leaf size.—90.0 mm in length and 55.0 mm in width.         -   Abundance.—Average. -   Leaflets:     -   -   Size.—Average size of the terminal leaflet is 30.0 mm in             length and 20.0 mm in width.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margins.—Finely serrated.         -   Surface appearance.—Semi-glossy.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Leathery.         -   Color, mature foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green) Lower             surface: RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Color, immature foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green)             Lower surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-Green).         -   Anthocyanin intonation.—RHS 183A (Greyed-Purple) present on             leaflet margins and lower surfaces of most immature foliage.         -   Arrangement.—Odd pinnate.         -   Venation.—Reticulate.         -   Stipules.—Size: 15.0 mm in length and 3.0 mm in width Color:             RHS 144A (Yellow-Green) Anthocyanin: RHS 182A (Greyed-Red)             present on apices and upper surface of midrib Stipitate             glands: Limited numbers of stipitate glands on margins, many             fine hairs present on body. Margins: Glandular toothed             Texture: Smooth Apex: Apiculate Base: Winged.         -   Petiole.—Length: Average is 25.0 mm to 30.0 mm Diameter:             Average is 1.0 mm Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A             (Yellow-Green) Lower surface: RHS 146A (Yellow-Green)             Anthocyanin: RHS 182A (Greyed-Red) present on upper surface             Prickles: A few small prickles underneath Stipitate glands:             Limited numbers of stipitate glands present on margins             Texture: Papillate.         -   Petiole rachis.—Length: Average is 10.0 mm to 20.0 mm             Diameter: Average is 1.0 mm Color: RHS 137A (Green)             Anthocyanin: None observed Margins: Papillate Prickles: A             few small prickles underneath Stipitate glands: Limited             numbers of stipitate glands on margins and underneath. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 25.0 mm to 30.0 mm in length from base             of receptacle to distal end of bud and 20 mm diameter at its             widest point.         -   Form.—Long; pointed ovoid.         -   Color.—As sepals first unfold, bud color is RHS 155A             (White). When ¼ open, the upper surface of petals is RHS             155B (White), and the lower surface is RHS 155B (White).             Lower surface of outermost petals is RHS 157A (Green-White)             with intonations of RHS 144B (Yellow-Green). -   Sepals:     -   -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 146C (Yellow-Green) Lower surface:             RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Size.—Average is 25.0 mm to 30.0 mm for the length and 6.0             mm to 8.0 mm for the width.         -   Shape.—Weak foliaceous appendages on 3 of the five sepals.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Flat at union with receptacle.         -   Quantity.—Five.         -   Surface texture.—Upper side: Hoary Lower surface: Hoary.         -   Margins.—Cilliate.         -   Stipitate glands.—Limited. -   Flower:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent; floriferous.         -   Borne.—Singularly. Flowers held upright.         -   Fragrance.—Light.         -   Duration.—On the plant 18 days; senesced petals drop away             cleanly.         -   Size.—Medium for a miniature rose. When open, the average             flower diameter is 50.0 mm to 60.0 mm and the average flower             height is 30.0 mm.         -   Shape of flower when viewed from the side.—Upon opening,             upper part: Flat Upon opening, lower part: Flattened convex             Open flower, upper part: Flat Open flower, lower part: Flat.         -   Color.—Upon opening, petals: Outermost petals: Outer Side:             RHS 155C (White) Inner Side: RHS 155A (White) Innermost             petals: Outer Side: RHS 150D (Yellow-Green) Inner Side: RHS             150D (Yellow-Green) After opening, petals: Outermost petals:             Outer Side: RHS 155A (White) Inner Side: RHS 155A (White)             Innermost petals: Outer Side: RHS 155A (White) Inner Side:             RHS 155B (White) Upon opening, basal petal spots: Basal             petal spot, outermost petals: Outer Side: RHS 145B             (Yellow-Green) Inner Side: RHS 145C (Yellow-Green) Basal             petal spot, innermost petals: No distinctive coloration at             petal base observed. After opening, basal petal spots: Basal             petal spot, outermost petals: Outer Side: RHS 145B             (Yellow-Green) Inner Side: RHS 145C (Yellow-Green) Basal             petal spot, innermost petals: Outer Side: RHS 150C             (Yellow-Green) Inner Side: RHS 150C (Yellow-Green).         -   Size.—Average is 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm in height and 3.0 nun to             5.0 mm in width.         -   General tonality.—On open flowers, RHS 155C (White); no             change in the general tonality at the end of the eighth day;             afterwards, general tonality is RHS 155B (White). -   Petals:     -   -   Petal count.—Very double; approximately 115 to 120 petals             under normal conditions.         -   Petal reflex.—Outermost petals reflex very slightly.         -   Shape.—Outermost petals are obovate and innermost petals are             elliptic.         -   Apex.—Outermost petals obtuse and innermost petals are             acute.         -   Base.—Outermost and innermost petals are cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Petal size.—10.0 mm to 30.0 mm in length and 5.0 mm to 25.0             mm in width.         -   Petal arrangement.—Not formal.         -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces are smooth. -   Pedicel: None observed -   Peduncle:     -   -   Surface.—With fine hairs and stipitate glands.         -   Length.—35.0 mm to 45.0 mm average.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm to 4.0 mm average.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green); occasional intonations of             RHS 182B (Greyed-Red).         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Papillate. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Petaloid count.—Average of 30 per flower         -   Size.—5.0 mm to 6.0 mm in length and 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm in             width.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 150D (Yellow-Green) Lower surface:             RHS 150D (Yellow-Green).         -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces are smooth.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Shape.—Most commonly elliptical to linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate. -   Reproductive organs: None; center of bloom only with vegetative     growth -   Receptacle:     -   -   Surface.—Glaucous, typically with limited numbers of fine             hairs and stipitate glands present.         -   Color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Shape.—Funnel-shaped.         -   Texture.—Occasionally glabrous, generally papillate.         -   Size.—5.0 mm in height and 8.0 mm in width. -   Hips and seed formation: None observed -   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to Powdery mildew     (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) diseases     under normal growing conditions in Jackson County, Oreg.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its seed or female parent, an un-named seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   1. ‘KORpot044’ has white flowers, whereas the un-named seedling has     apricot-colored flowers. -   2. ‘KORpot044’ has a larger number of medium-sized flowers, whereas     the un-named seedling has a smaller number of large-sized flowers.

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its pollen or male parent, an un-named seedling, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   1. ‘KORpot044’ has white flowers, whereas the un-named seedling has     copper yellow flowers. -   2. ‘KORpot044’ has semi-glossy foliage, whereas the un-named     seedling has glossy foliage.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL LINE

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety ‘KORpot001’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,954 and issued on October 8, 2013) are compared to ‘KORpot044’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 Characteristic ‘KORpot044’ ‘KORpot001’ Flower size. Medium for a miniature rose, 50.0 mm Large for a miniature rose, 80.0 to 60.0 mm in diameter. mm in diameter. Petal Count Approximately 115 to 120 petals Approximately 70 to 85 petals under normal conditions. under normal conditions. General Tonality On open flower, RHS 155C On open flower, RHS 20C (White) (Yellow-Orange) 

I claim,
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant named ‘KORpot044’ as illustrated and described herein. 